Pirates stadium plan scrapped

Mayor Sophie Masloff said negative reaction from the public has prompted her to scrap plans to build a $100 million new stadium for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The mayor said that the timing of the announcement, as the city wrestles with financial problems, was inopportune.

On Sept. 5, the mayor announced plans to build Clemente Field, a 44,000-seat stadium that would be used only for baseball. It was to be on the city's north side, near Three Rivers Stadium, where the Pirates play now.

* MARINERS: The team will seek an appraisal of its value -- a required legal step before all or part of the team can be sold and moved.

The Mariners have been given a February deadline by Security Pacific Bank to either refinance $39.5 million in loans or find a buyer for the team.

Meanwhile in Washington, Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash., decided to delay until later this week introduction of a bill that in the long term could provide a financial boost to the Mariners and other teams in small markets.

* CUBS: Outfielder Andre Dawson withdrew his appeal of a one-day suspension, levied last month in an umpire-bumping, bat-throwing incident in a game against the Cincinnati Reds. The National League said that Dawson would serve it during that night's game in Pittsburgh.